Overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers



Oct. 31, 1961 A. RASH ETAL 3,006,501

OVERFLOW CATCHER FOR EFFERVESCENT FLUID CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 19, 1960 INVENTORS. ALBERT RASH LISBETH K. BALLARD United States Patent OVERFLOW CATCHER FOR EFFERVESCENT FLUID CONTAINERS Albert Rash and Lisbeth K. Ballard, both of 121 N. 17th Ave., Phoenix, Ariz., assignors of one-third to 0. C. Williams Filed Dec. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 76,833 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-455) This invention relates to an overflow catcher for efferverscent fluid containers and more particularly to an overflow catcher which may be applied to the normally upper ends of beer cans, or the like, in order to catch overflow of the spray and/ or foam from the tops of such cans during the opening of the same.

Oftentimes, effervescent fluids are under slight pressure immediately previous to the opening of the containers thereof which causes spray and/or foam to issue from the opening usually formed by a conventional can opener.

Such etlervescence of various fluids, including beers or the like, may cause wetting and/ or damage of clothing or other articles surrounding the beverage container being opened.

It has been a problem to provide a device which will contain excessive spray or foaming of effervescent fluid which issues from the tops of beer cans, for example. Further, it has been a problem to seal around the instrument used for opening beer cans or the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers which efiiciently catches effervescent fluids, including spray and foam, which issues from the tops of effervescent fluid or beverage containers when they are opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers which is provided with a resilient skirt adapted normally to surround and snugly fit the upper portion of an effervescent fluid container in order to provide a seal therearound while an upper portion of the overflow catcher affords a chamber which is provided with means to contain spray and foam whereby it is prevented from overflowing onto surrounding objects when the eflervescent fluid container is opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers wherein a chamber in the catcher above the top of the fluid container is provided with a baffle having an extended surface area in the form of downwardly extending fingers above which are located gas escape openings whereby a foam and/ or spray which moves upwardly from the top of the fluid container is arrested by the downwardly extending fingers while expansive gases may escape through the openings in the upper portion of the catcher thereby retaining all foam and spray in the area of the top of the container thus preventing overflow, even through an expansive amount of foam rises above the container when it is opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers which may very readily and quickly be atached to a container such as a beer can or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers, particularly designed for use in catching overflow from beer cans when the conventional openers are used to open the cans; said overflow catcher having a resilient side wall provided with an opening therein disposed intimately to conform with a portion of a can opener normally used to open a can, thereby preventing leakage of fluid outwardly around the can opener.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top or plan view of the overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers in accordance with the present invention and further showing fragmentarily a can opener in position to open the can and having its opening end extended into the overflow catcher.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a beer can or the like showing portions thereof fragmentarily and in section and illustrating a vertical sectional view of the over flow catcher for eflfervescent fluid containers in connection with the beer can and further illustrating, fragmentarily, a can opener in position and forming an opening in the beer can; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken from the line 33 of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a conventional beer can A is provided with the usual annular peripheral rim structure B over which is fitted a skirt 10 of the overflow catcher 12 of the present invention. The skirt 10 is a resilient annular band structure preferably made of rubber or any other suitable material and integral therewith is a generally cup shaped body structure of the catcher. The cup shaped structure 14, when in use is inverted, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, in order properly to cover and surround the upper end C of the beer can A.

The inverted cup shaped structure 14 is provided with an upper enclosed end 16 having a plurality of gas vent openings 18 therein. These openings 18 communicate with ambient atmosphere above the overflow catcher of the invention and serve only to vent gases but not foam or fluid, as will be hereinafter described.

Surrounding the top portion 16 of the body 14, is an annular bead portion 20 which stiffens and reinforces the peripheral portion of the top 16 and makes a transi tion with the substantially frusto conical side wall portions 22' which are integral with the enlarged diameter skirt 10 which surrounds the upper portion of the beer can at its rim B, as hereinbefore described.

The annular frusto conical Wall portion 22 is provided with an annular inner skirt portion 24 which surrounds and engages the top C of the can A and also engages the inner portion of the annular bead B in order to form a proper seal for fluid which may rise in the overflow catcher 12.

An opening 26 extends through the side wall 22 at its transition with the skirt 10 and this opening 26 extends downwardly to a position slightly below the rim B of the can in order to receive the hook D of the conventional can opener E and permit the hook D to be engaged with the lower portion of the rim B While the cutting point P of the can opener E is disposed in position to open the top C of the can.

Another opening 28 is positioned in the skirt 24 in alignment with the opening 26 so that the can opener cutting point F may be inserted through these openings 26 and 28 into position for opening the top C of the can. These openings 26 and 28 snugly fit the can opener E in order to provide a seal therearound so that fluids are prevented from escaping from the overflow catcher when they rise above the upper end C of the can A.

Integral with the top 16 is a central support 30 having an annular groove 32 therein.

A disc 34 is provided with a central opening 36 fitted over the support 30 and engaged in the bottom of the annular groove 36.

An end 38 of the support 30 is slightly enlarged and of resilient material so that the opening 36 of the disc 34 may be snapped into position in the annular groove 32.

This disc 34 is slightly concavo convex having its concave surface 40 extending upwardly and its convex surface disposed downwardly.

Integral with the downwardly disposed surface of the disc 34 are fingers 42 which collect foam and condense the same to a liquid thereby causing the foam to return to the top of the can and back through an opening formed by the point F of the can opener E. The disc 34 functions to stop foam and spray from passing upwardly through the openings 18. Thus, when the can opener E at its point P pierces the top of the can C wherein the effervescent fluid is under pressure, foam and or spray which tends to pass upwardly is confined within the annular wall 22 of the catcher body and the violent action of any foam or spray is taken care of by the fingers 42 of the disc 34; this disc being only slightly spaced from the wall 22 at its periphery 44. The periphery 44 of the disc is disposed outwardly of the open ings 18 so that spray or foam cannot pass directly through the openings 18. Thus, the fingers 42 must first be contacted by the spray or foam and thus all of the effervescent fluid is retained in the overflow catcher body 12 and in a short period of time will return through the opening into the container. 7

During this time, the can opener E is left in position to seal the openings 26 and 28, as hereinbefore described.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In an overflow catcher for eifervescent fluid containers, the combination of: a substantially inverted cupshaped resilient structure having a substantially resilient skirt disposed to surround the upper portion of a beer can or the like; said skirt having a lower portion disposed to be placed closely adjacent an inner annular portion of a can rim; said skirt having an opening in the side wall thereof disposed intimately to fit and receive a can opener for insertion therethrough to open the top of the can inwardly of said skirt; a top portion of said catcher having gas escape openings therein; a support extending downwardly from said top; a disc-shaped structure carried by said support, said disc-shaped structure underlying said openings and having a peripheral portion spaced from the interior of said cup-shaped structure and extending outwardly beyond said gas escape openings, said disc-shaped structure thereby disposed to limit upward movement of spray and/or foam of effervescent fluid when a can is opened at its top portion and fluid passes upwardly through an opening formed therein internally of said skirt.

2. In an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers the combination of: a substantially inverted cup shaped resilient structure having a substantially resilient skirt disposed to surround the upper portion of a beer can or the like; said skirt having an opening in the side wall thereof disposed intimately to fit and receive a can opener for insertion therethrough to open the top of the can; a top portion for said catcher having gas escape openings therein; a support extending downwardly from said top; a disc structure on said support and underlying said openings disposed to limit upwardly movement of spray and or foam of effervescent fluid when a can is opened at its top portion and disposed internally of said skirt; said disc structure having extending surface area on the lower side thereof in the form of downwardly extending fingers.

3. In an overflow catcher for eflervescent fluid containers the combination of: a substantially inverted cup shaped resilient structure having a substantially resilient skirt disposed to surround the upper portion of a beer can or the like; said skirt having an opening in the side wall thereof disposed intimately to fit and receive a can opener for insertion therethrough to open the top of the can; a top portion for said catcher having gas escape openings therein; a support extending downwardly from said top, a disc structure on said support and underlying said openings disposed to limit upwardly movement of spray and or foam of effervescent fluid when a can is opened at its top portion and disposed internally of said skirt; said disc structure having extending surface area on the lower side thereof in the form of downwardly extending fingers; said disc structure substantially concavo convex having its convex surface disposed upwardly.

4. In an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers the combination of: a substantially inverted cup shaped resilient structure having a substantially resilient skirt disposed to surround the upper portion of a beer can or the like; said skirt having an opening in the side wall thereof disposed intimately to fit and receive a can opener for insertion therethrough to open the top of the can; a top portion for said catcher having gas escape openings therein; a support extending downwardly from said top, a disc structure on said support and underlying said openings disposed to limit upwardly movement of spray and or foam of effervescent fluid when a can is opened at its top portion and disposed internally of said skirt; said disc structure having extending surface area on the lower side thereof in the form of downwardly extending fingers; said disc structure substantially concavo convex having its convex surface disposed upwardly; said disc structure having a central opening and said downwardly extending support having an annular groove in which said opening is engaged; said downwardly extending support of substantially resilient material permitting said opening of said disc structure to be snapped thereover and into said annular groove whereby said disc structure is supported below the upper portion of said overflow catcher and below said gas escape openings.

5. In an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers the combination of: a substantially inverted cup shaped resilient structure having a substantially resilient skirt disposed to surround the upper portion of a beer can or the like; said skirt having an opening in the side Wall thereof disposed intimately to fit and receive a can opener for insertion therethrough to open the top of the can; a top portion for said catcher having gas escape openings therein; a support extending downwardly from said top; a disc structure on said support and underlying said openings disposed to limit upward movement of spray and or foam of effervescent fluid when a can is opened at its top portion and disposed internally of said skirt; a second skirt integral with said first mentioned skirt and inwardly thereof said second skirt disposed to engage the inner side of a can rim and the top thereof; said second skirt provided with an opening ali ned with the first mentioned opening in said first mentioned skirt in order to receive a can opener in alignment therewith.

6. In an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers the combination of: a substantially inverted cup shaped resilient structure having a substantially resilient skirt disposed to surround the upper portion of a beer can or the like; said skirt having an opening in the side wall thereof disposed intimately to fit and receive a can opener for insertion therethrough to open the top of the can; a top portion for said catcher having gas escape openings therein; a support extending downwardly from said top; a disc structure on said support and underlying said openings disposed to limit upward movement of spray and or foam of effervescent fluid when a can is opened at its top portion and disposed internally of said skirt; said opening in said skirt extending slightly below the rim of a can being opened whereby a conventional can opener hook may engage the lower portion of a can rim within said opening.

7. In an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers the combination of: a substantially inverted cup shaped resilient structure having an open end provided with a skirt disposed intimately to surround and grip the upper portion of a beer can or the like, said skirt hava1 beer can opener therethrough, the normally upper portion of said overflow catcher being partially enclosed and provided with gas escape openings therein spaced inwardly of the periphery of the overflow catcher; a disc structure depending from the upper portion of said overflow catcher and below said openings said disc shaped structure having a peripheral portion extending radially beyond said openings to interrupt the passage of spray or foam and to shield said openings therefrom; the periphery of said disc shaped structure being slightly spaced from the interior of said inverted cup shaped structure so as to permit gas to pass upwardly around said disc shaped structure and outwardly through said openings while foam and spray is interrupted and retained by said disc shaped structure.

8. In an overflow catcher for effervescent fluid containers the combination of: a substantially inverted cup shaped resilient structure having an open end provided with a skirt disposed intimately to surround and grip the upper portion of a beer can or the like, said skirt having an opening therein for the insertion of a conventional beer can opener therethrough, the normally upper portion of said overflow catcher being partially enclosed and provided with gas escape openings therein spaced inwardly of the periphery of the overflow catcher; a disc structure depending from the upper portion of said overflow catcher and below said openings, said disc shaped structure having a peripheral portion extending radially beyond said openings to interrupt the passage of spray or foam and to shield said openings therefrom; the periphery of said disc shaped structure being slightly spaced from the interior of said inverted cup shaped structure so as to permit gas to pass upwardly around said disc shaped structure and outwardly through said openings while foam and spray is interrupted and retained by said disc shaped structure; said disc shaped structure having an extended surface area on its lower portion including downwardly extending portions adapted to condense foam and or collect spray to prevent it from rising upwardly to said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 2,080,090 Mumaugh May 11, 1937 2,612,293 Michel Sept. 30, 1952 2,673,660 Nordin Mar. 30, 1954 2,721,000 Schwendler et al Oct. 18, 1955 2,775,813 Middleton Jan. 1, 1957 

